Toners -Unlisted Brand - Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
swolf123 11/22/2007 11:36:00 AM
I am reviewing Brag's "Mother" Apple Cider brand as a Hair Rinse. Hands down, best gentle clarifying hair rinse. I have color treated brown hair, so most clarifying shampoos do a number on my colored dry hair. I went on this website for terrific formula ideas: chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/shampving.htm I took her suggestion with 1tble spoon to 1 cup water, but I shampoo before and after. And I use Wella's PH balancing treatment lotion (from Sally's), prior to conditioning. I use this treatment once every 1 1/2 to two weeks, to give my hair body and shine that is flake free.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Tunisian musk
swolf123 11/18/2007 12:19:00 PM
I love musks, but bored with the common Egyptian/Arabian musk, so I gave this a try. It starts off with a light sweet powder fragrance. A little too sweet for my tastes at first. I never think of a musk being sweet, but this one is a bit. I am not sure if I will buy again. Time will tell. Update: This fragrance quickly became my fav. Dry down is not too sweet, but just yum musk. Love DSH musks.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Modern Iris
swolf123 11/18/2007 12:13:00 PM
Got this one on sale, hoping that I will like it as much as Aran. Upon application, I smell a light floral, I believe it is the Violet. The dry down is a nice spicy fragrance, similar the Lucky's 6. But I like this one better than Lucky's. It has a cleaner, unspoiled dry down. But I am not a floral gal, so I don't think I'll be wearing this more than DSH musks. Description: An eclectic accord of violet-iris flowers and a modern woody-musk design in its base. Composition Top notes: Bergamot, Blue Chamomile, Violet Middle notes: Jasmine, Orris Base notes: Atlas Cedarwood, Moss, Musk, Sandalwood
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Aran
swolf123 11/18/2007 12:06:00 PM
Aran is my first favorite scent from DSH. I have mild allergy towards strong floral/spicy fragrances, so I usually gravitate towards the fresh and clean. It is soft and sensual musk, that starts and ends beautifully. DSH describes Aran: The clean essence of summer on the Irish countryside. A classic for men. Composition Top notes: Green Clover Blossoms, Green Grass, Heather, Lavender Flower Middle notes: Heather, Siberian Fir Base notes: Brazilian Vetiver, Brown Oakmoss, Fern, Maile Fern, Musk
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Hair Styling Tools -Mason Pearson - Universal
swolf123 11/13/2007 4:05:00 PM
My 4th brush from this line, and now my favorite. I started out with the Popular, a 1/2 nylon/ 1/2 boar. Which was okay for my thick medium to long hair. Next to the Pure Boar, which didn't work at all for my thick hair. Next I tried the pocket nylon. I loved it so much, I ran out and bought this one. A must for thick hair. It also feels really good on the scalp. Update: Still love this for my very thick long locks. I also added the detangler brush to my collection, b/c I thought it would be the same brush only smaller which would be useful at work. Well they both are all nylon bristle brushes but they are not the same. The Universal has shorter, some what softer nylon bristles great for daily maintenance. The detanglers nylon bristles are much stiffer and longer, which would be ideal for using on wet tangled hair. I probably should have gotten a 2nd Universal but I do like the Detangler and will try it on wet hair, but already have 2 Mason Pearson Combs for my wet tangled hair. So depending on what your needs are, buy the Universal for brushing dried thick hair or the Detangler for Wet detangling.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Mason Pearson - Rake Comb
swolf123 11/13/2007 4:00:00 PM
Okay, I have to say something on this one. I have been an avid Mason Pearson Brush fan for about 8 yrs now. I just bought the Rake, my first of their combs, and I have to say that it is nothing special. I have had better wide tooth combs that cost 50% less. Buy the brushes, leave the combs. Update: Added a lippie b/c even though it's not really worth raving about, it's still a great product I use daily. The comb ends are perfectly rounded and spaced far enough apart, that it doesn't hurt my scalp or tear my wet hair out. A+
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Molton Brown - Vitamin Lip Sheer Honeysuckle
swolf123 11/9/2007 4:17:00 PM
I am constant lip balm wearer. So when I heard about this pretty lip balm, I thought I hit a home run. Fun colors, eye catching sparkle dust, with a hydrating balm to match. No such luck. Packaging is pretty. But all you get is Vaseline in a small tube. Very dehydrating and annoying to wear. Additionally, the color Honeysuckle, is completely transparent. I pretty much did buy $14 of Vaseline in a small tube. Bobbi Brown Balm still beats all other tinted balm.
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Masks -Jan Marini - Skin Zyme Green Papaya Enzyme Mask
swolf123 10/30/2007 6:12:00 PM
Masks rarely impress me, past the initial spa pampering vibe I get when I use them. This one actually has a purpose, and shows results rather quickly. Which is good, since the packaging and smell aren't selling points. I have umber sensitive/reactive skin, acne marks and dryness; resulting from sun exposure and glycol. I use this mask weekly in the winter, to reveal a more youthful and glowing appearance. I tried the matching cleanser on my repurchase, and I have to say that I was not impressed. Stick with your favorite cleanser, and save some greenbacks. Bottom line: This is perfect for sensitive, troubled skin that is braving the winter months. It does a better job of ex foliating than my favorite daily scrub. I only use this once a week for 30 min, since I don't have a lot of time to waste. I can't say that it has dramatically lightened or lessened my acne marks; but my face is bright, glowing and flake free. Some might not need a scrub if you use this mask twice a week. Also, if you turn a little red or sensitive the first few times of use, don't worry you will become desensitized with a few more uses. Update: knocked off one lippie, since I found Good Skin's Peel Pads. A bit more effective in quarter of the time. Still, I might repurchase.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Kenra - Texturizing Taffy
swolf123 10/21/2007 9:30:00 AM
This stuff is wow. After blowing out my hair I rubbed a little in my hands, applied throughout. It tamed flyways, added bounce, and created a subtle piecy look. This is the closest I have ever come in creating my favorite Salon blowout. And you only use a dab, so $17 of product will last a very long time.
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Scrubs -Grassroots - Get Glowing
swolf123 9/23/2007 7:50:00 AM
Very good scrub/mask, for my sensitive acne prone skin. Rough scrubs just cause reactiveness, acne and redness. Problem is that if I don't scrub/mask everyday, after turning 23, I break-out. This stuff is great, it actually cancels out redness. I use it everyday as a scrub, and keep on for a minute or two when I need to clarify. I tried something similar from Mary Kay, the Revitalizing Mask Formula 2; but it just caused redness and ugly bumps. Available only at Kohls for $15.
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Scrubs -Grassroots - The Best and the Brightest
swolf123 9/23/2007 7:39:00 AM
The first review was dead on. Unfortunately, I purchased before reading. Any case, I tried it anyways with the same results. Too rough for my sensitive face. I am returning it, and sticking with the Get Glowing Scrub, which doubles as a clay mask.
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Shampoo -Aveda - Smooth Infusion
swolf123 9/15/2007 8:27:00 AM
Favorite shampoo yet. It does a great job of gently and thoroughly cleaning dry, color treated hair, without weighing it down. My only complaint is the price. I am use to shelling out the cash for high end products, but this is a little much. I will have to see how long the 8oz lasts. I am also pondering on trying the matching conditioner. I am using FF glossing conditioner and Serious Factor conditioning treat.
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Cleansers -Ellen Lange - Daily Maintenance Cleanser
swolf123 9/15/2007 8:21:00 AM
Maybe the most perfect basic cleanser. Kind of like what you think Cetaphil should be, but isn't. I have the Mineral Cleanser, that replaced this one. I will have to say it is very important to me that a cleanser is PH balanced, non irritating, drying, or comedogenic. Hard to find, but worth it. No points off for price, since it is uber concentrated and the 6 oz will last you a while. I use Laventine Olive Forte Cleaning oil first, for Makeup and sunscreen removal. Update: I use two different cleaners now. I use EL in the morning, when I don't have any makeup on, and a stronger cleanser at night to remove all excess dirt and makeup. I have to use EL in the morning, prior to moisturizer/makeup because it does not leave my face at all dry. Which would be evident by the end of the day. I am acne prone, and found this cleanser does not remove enough at night. Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Aloe (Barbadensis) Gel, Propylene Glycol, Trietranolamine-Lauryl Sulfate, Surcrose Cocoate, Stearic Acid, Glycol Strearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Soluable Collagen, Saccharomyces/Silcone Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharmoyces/Sea Salt Ferment, Triethanolamine Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylaparaben, Sorbitol, Benzophenone4, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, FD&C Blue #1 (C142090), D&C Violet #2 (C160725)
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Moisturizers -La Roche Posay - Nutritic
swolf123 9/14/2007 6:51:00 PM
Okay, I only used this product once so far, but I can say this is really something. FYI, I purchased the Ultra-Fine Cream version. There is also an emulsion formula, but I haven't tried it. Upon application, the cream instantly moisturizes and absorbs. No sting and no greasy mess. Love the fragrance. Hopefully this will heal my dry, flaky, overly sensitive and very acne prone skin. I need a miracle, at this point. But my skin feels happy so far. Which is a good thing, since I've been making it angry lately. I apply this prior to applying my Decleor Iris Balm. Update: Loving this stuff still, especially during the winter. It is light enough under my day lotion, prior to make-up. I am also starting to love the smell. Update: Years later, I'm still loving this lotion as daytime layered moisturizer. I put a light layer of the 5% prior to apply Jan Marini's UV lotion. No, breakouts or irritations. I highly recommend this lotion for dry skin or climates. One of the best from this brand.
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Conditioner -Frederic Fekkai - Glossing Conditioner
swolf123 8/26/2007 9:40:00 AM
My search is over, for a conditioner that smells great, glosses, defrizzs, and instantly detangles. Perfect for my my thick, medium length, color-treated, dry and unruly hair. Definitely worth the price, since it is very concentrated. Update: Fragrance is nauseating, it makes my hair more greasy than conditioned.
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